His is an enviable job. A former journalist with BBC,Alex Robertson literally lives out of a suitcase. The international brand ambassador of Chivas Brothers (the makers of Scotch brands such as Chivas Regal,Ballantines and The Glenlivet),Robertson now travels to as many as 20 countries in a year conducting sessions for whisky novices and aficionados on the provenance,heritage and craftsmanship of the luxury whiskies he represents. Just back from Serbia,Robertson was in Chandigarh this week to conduct a session on the finer nuances of single malt whiskies,The Glenlivet to be precise,as well as dish out food pairings.

The first time I visited India was last year and didnt get to go beyond Delhi, said Robertson,who would be touring Mumbai,Kolkata and Chennai this time around. His travels,said Robertson,have been learning experiences. I was surprised to see that in China,they paired their Scotch with green tea. It actually tastes refreshing, he said. Terming India as one of the top 20 markets for fine Scotch whiskies,Robertson (also the founder of Glasgows first and only Whisky Club) said,The consumers here are very knowledgeable and eager to learn about the history and heritage of the whisky they sip on. While prawns and cod,he said,go very well with the single malt,they are no match to the Indian tandoori dishes. I was fascinated to know of charcoal cooking here and feel tandoori preparations complement the single malt as well, he said.

Back home in Speyside,Robertson said,the older malts are stored in cherry wood casks with a charcoal finish on the inside to lend it a smoky flavour. The Scotch whisky offers many flavours,ranging from sweet to smoky and even hints of vanilla, he said.